Attacks on Portsmouth Now! are inflammatory

Recent letters to the editor indulge in offensive name-calling and egregiously mischaracterize the positions of Portsmouth Now! If the letter writers checked our Web site and the Sustainable Growth Action Plan we democratically voted for in the spring of 2013 (www.portsmouth now.org), they would discover that we are for resto...

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seacoastonline.com

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Posted Sep. 5, 2014 at 2:00 AM

Posted Sep. 5, 2014 at 2:00 AM

» Social News

Sept. 2 — To the Editor:

Recent letters to the editor indulge in offensive name-calling and egregiously mischaracterize the positions of Portsmouth Now! If the letter writers checked our Web site and the Sustainable Growth Action Plan we democratically voted for in the spring of 2013 (www.portsmouth now.org), they would discover that we are for restoring transparency to our city government, for responsible stewardship of our city's fragile, historically built environment and quality of life, and for growing smart. The letters also incorrectly ascribe to us positions we don't hold. Aside from being inaccurate, this is inflammatory, and just not nice. As other historic cities warn, it is in Portsmouth's best interest to protect "the goose that laid the Golden Egg." (By the way, the Golden Egg is the best breakfast place on the Seacoast!) Protecting the city's historic character and keeping it from being overwhelmed by low-quality, anywhere, USA-style megabuildings is not anti-development. It makes economic common sense. Sometimes, that means choosing the long view over the quick buck, or as folks in Savannah, Ga., say, going on a "no architectural junk food" diet. Do you want minimum-wage hotel jobs for people who can't afford to live here? Or do you want high-paying, high-tech jobs in downtown Portsmouth so our children can afford to live here? What happened to the Ecoast? Now all we hear is Hampton Inn. Stop the name-calling! Read the blog and base your comments on facts. Why aren't we protecting our children's future?